Simulated bowling game apparatus



Oct. 23, 1951 A. DURANT ET AL 2,572,456

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l um lllllll"ml j IN V EN TORS la/5242@ f Oct. 23, 1951 1 A. DURANT ET AL SIMULATED BOWLING GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1950 BY MZ Oct. 23, 1951 L A. DURANT ET AL 2,572,456.

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1950 Sheets-Sheet .3.

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Oct. 23, 1951 A. DURANT ET AL SIMULATED BOWLING GAME APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 22, 1950 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 Y SIMULATED BOWLING GAME APPARATUS Lyndon A. Durant and Melvin J. lBinks, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Republic Patent Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 157,551

6 Claims.

This invention relates to simulated bowling game apparatus in which a puck or other game piece is manually propelled over a playing field for contact with one or more switches in the power circuit of mechanism operable to pivot simulated bowling pins from a vertical display position to a horizontal position above the playing eld.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will afford the maximum amusement.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement for supporting the simulated bowling pins in a standard formation and for moving one or more of such pins from such supported position to simulate the knocking down of one or more pins by the game playing puck or other playing piece. c

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section illustrating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bowling pin supporting panel embodied in the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view of the supporting panel shown in Fig. 2 but illustrating the underside thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a combination latch and support for a simulated bowling pin embodied in the invention;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the same taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the simulated bowling pin in a raised position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the switchcarrying portion of the playing eld embodied in the invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram embodied in the invention.

The several objects of our invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is illustrated a cabinet I5.

Within this cabinet I5 is an elongated board providing a playing field I6 and over which a puck or other game piece is adapted to be propelled for contact with one or more switches. These switches are arranged on the playing eld It into two groups, one indicated at Il and referred to as the strike switches arranged within an indicated strike zone I8, and the other group indicated at I9 and known as the spare switches and arranged outside of the strike zone I8.

Each switch comprises, as illustrated in Fig. 9, cooperating switch leaves 2U `of the spring type adapted to be closed by an actuating lever 2| pivoted at 22 and having a portion 23 eX- tending upwardly through a slot 24 formed in the playing iield.

The portion 23 has a pin 25 which bears upon the upper of the spring leaves 2U. The arrangement is such that when a puck passes over the portion 23, the upper of the switch leaves 29 will by reason of its engagement with the pin 25 be flexed into Contact with the lower of the switch leaves 20 upon pivotal movement of the actuating arm 2I by engagement with the puck. These switches control an electric circuit to electromagnetic elements hereinafter more fully referred to.

Above the switch bearing portion of'theplaying field I6 and in spaced relation with respect thereto is a transparent plate 26 which constitutes the bottom wall of a cabinet 2l extending upwardly from the cabinet I5.

This upright cabinet 21 comprises a transparent front wall 28 and a top wall 29. Beneath the top wall 29 and in spaced relation with respect thereto is a supporting panel 3D. The top wall 29 is connected to this supporting panel 39 and to the side walls of' the cabinet 2'I by means of suitable screws 32.

From this panel 3!)A is supported a plurality of simulated bowling pins 33. Each pin 33 comprises a plastic body having attachment as at 34 to the end portion of a supporting rod 35. This supporting rod 35 is formed to provide an intermediate portion 36 which is pivotally connected to the portion 3l of a mounting bracket 38.

In the panel 30 is formed a slot 39 into which this portion 3'I of the mounting bracket 38 is positioned. The rod 35 outwardly of the intermediate portion 36 is bent to provide a portion 40 extending in parallel spaced relation with respect to the intermediate portion 36 to provide a bar portion cooperating with a latch 4| provided by the armature 42 of an electromagnetic coil 43. This armature 4I is yieldably held in position for latched engagement with the bar vby a spring 44. The coil 43 is carried by an arm E 45 provided by the bracket 38. The bracket 38 is attached to the panel in the position shown in Fig. 6 by means of screws 116.

To the upper end portion of the rod 35 there is attached as at 43 one end portion of a spring 13S, the opposite end of the spring i9 being attached to the panel 3B as at 5B. When the rod 35 with its simulated pin 33 is disposed in a vertical position with the bar 4i! in latched position with respect to the latch 4| the spring 49 is placed under tension so that when the coil $3 is energized to pivot the armature dzthereof to.

remove the latch 4| from engagement with 'the bar 4D this spring will serve as a motive power to pivot the rod 35 and its simulated pin rtofa horizontal position beneath the panel 30A as shown corporate switches Il in the strike zone in an electric circuit whereby when any one of such switches ll is closed by the puck all of the simulated pins 33 will be released for pivotal movement from a vertical position to a horizontal position beneath the panel 35 thereby to simulate the accomplishment of a strike. Any approved circuit to accomplish this object may be provided. We have shown, however, a suggested circuit in Fig. 10.

In this circuit, corresponding sides of the switches Il are. connected by a conductor 13 to one side of a power source '54. The other side i of this power source by a conductor l is connected to Vone sid'e of a motor l5. The opposite in Fig. 7. The simulated pin 33 and-therod 35Y are maintained in this position by the spring 119.

Each of the simulated bowling pins is 'su'p" ported from the panel 3Q in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and-6 and each is moved-from vertical position as shown in Fig. 1'to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. '7 by its respective spring i9 when the individual rods r 35 are released from latched engagement with their respective. latches 4| by the electromagnetic lcoils 43 controlling the operation of such latches.

In order to prevent each of the pins 33 from striking against the underside of the panel when pivoted to such position und-er the action of the spring 49, we provide a felt bumper disk 5B. This disk 50 is carried by a plate 5IV secured as at 52 tothe underside of the paneland the disk is arranged to be engaged by the rod 35.

Means is Yprovided for pivoting the simulated pins 33 from the horizontal elongated position shown in Fig. 7 vback to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1. This means comprises a motor 53 connected as at 5dV to the top side of the panel 3). On the shaft 56 of the motor 53is a disk S0. Eccentrically connected to this disk 6B- as at lil is -alink 62. A pin63V extends downwardly from the outer end portion of this link 6-2 through a slot Bri formed in the panel 3i! for connection with an arm 65 of a reset bar 66 slidably sup- .f

ported by suitable brackets 5l' on the undersuriace of the panel 30 as shown in Fig. 4.:

This reset bar E6 comprises spaced arms 61 which are adapted to engage the bent. portion 58 of each of the rods v so that when the reset bar 1 E6, by operation of the motor 53- is moved relative to the panel 3D in the direction toward the bent portions 63 of the rods 35, the arms 6l will engage such bent portions 68 and pivot the rods 35 to the position shown. in Fig. l with the bars lt latched against the action of the springs 49 by the latch plates d I.

Connected to the pin 63 is one. end of a spring 5S, the opposite end of the spring being connected. as at 'It to one of the arms 45 of the bracket 38.

The arrangement is such that when the reset bar 65 is in its retracted position as shownin Fig. 4 the. spring 69 will be under ten-sion so that as soonas the pivot point 5l between the disk 6!! and the link 52 has crossed the long aXis of the shaft 5.6 this spring will work with theY motor and thereby assist the motor in its operation of moving the reset bar 66 in the direction to pivot the rods 35 and their simulated, pins to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1.

The motor 53 may be connected in circuit with a. power source .ll controlled by a switch 12 in turn. controlled by a conventional coin slide 13". The present object of our invention t0 11.1.-v

Ynected Ato the .opposite side of the switches l1.

On the shaft la of this motor is a cam disk 19 whichlcontrols the closing of a switch 3U. One side of this switch 3@ by a conductor 8l is connected to the conductor l5. The other Yside of this switch by a conductor 3212s connected to Ythe conductor ll. The arrangement is such that when any one ofthe switches il is closed by the puck the. motor 16 will be energized and the initial movement of this motor will rotate the cam disk 19 to close the switch 8U- which switch 8U will remain closed until the cam disk '1S has made one complete cycle of rotation. On the shaft 18 is a wiper ringer 83 connectedA by a conductor 84 to the conductor l5. This wiper ringer 83 is adapted to successively engage contacts t5A connected to corresponding sides of the coils 43.

The opposite corresponding sides of. the coils 43 by a conductor 8S is connected to the conductors l5 and 8l. The arrangement is such that wheny the wiper finger 83 successively `engages the contacts 85 the coils 43 will be successively energized to pivot their respective armatures d'2 to release the latch plates lll from engagement with the bars lil whereby to permit the rods 35 andV their simulated pins to be pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 7 under the action` of the springs 49.

It is also the` object of our simulated bowling game to energize certain of thecoils 43 upon the independent closing. of the switches EQ which switches as before stated are termed the spare switches, Each of these switches controls the energization ofy a particular coil of the coils 43.- For this purposek any suitable circuit may be pro-r vided. In Fig. 10 a suggested circuit is disclosed.- In that circuit, wey have shown only two of the switches t9 for purpose of illustration. Cneside cf each switch is connected to the one side of its respective coil 43 by a conductor 8l'. The other side of each switch is connected by a conductor 88-to one. side of the power source ld.. When one of the switches I9 is closed a circuit will be established through conductor 81, its respective coil 43, conductors 3P, 81 and- ?5. The energization of such coil 43- will release the simulated pin 33 ol that particular unit for pivotal movement from the position shown in Fig. l tothe position shown in Fig. 7.

B-y the foregoing` arrangement we have provided a simple, compact and eilective' arrangement for automatically pivoting the simulated pins from a vertical display position to a horizontal position simulating the accomplishment of a strike or a spare.

While we have illustrated and describedv the preferred form of construction for carrying ourv invention into efect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to thel precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: f

Y l. A simulated bowling amusement game apparatus comprising a supporting structure including a playing field and a horizontally arranged panel disposed in confronting spaced relation with respect to the eld, a plurality of simulated bowling pins, means providing pivotal connection between the panel and said pins, means carried by the panel and connected to said pin connecting means for pivoting the said pins from a position vertically with respect tov said panel to a position horizontally with respect thereto, electromagnetic means including latch structures for latching said pins in said vertical position, spring means connected to said panel and to said pin connecting means for pivoting said pins to said vertical position when said pins are unlatched from said latched structures, and a power circuit for said electromagnetic means including switches each having a playing piece engaging element arranged on the playingeld.

2. A simulated bowling amusement game apparatus comprising a supporting structure including a playing eld and a horizontally arranged panel disposed in confronting spaced relation with respect to the field, a plurality of simulated bowling pins, means providing pivotal connection between the panel and said pins, means carried by the panel and connected to said pin connecting means for pivoting the said pins from a position vertically with respect to said panel to a position horizontally with respect thereto, electromagnetic means including latch structures for latching said pins in said vertical position, spring means connected to said panel and to said pin connecting means for pivoting said pins to said vertical position when said pins are unlatched from said latch structures, and a power circuit for said electromagnetic means including switches each having a playing piece engaging element arranged on the playing field, and means engageable with said pin connecting means for moving said pins from said horizontal position to said vertical position with respect to said panel.

3. A simulated bowling amusement game apparatus comprising a supporting structure including a playing field and a horizontally arranged panel disposed in confronting spaced relation with respect to the iield, a plurality of simulated bowling pins, means providing pivotal connection between the panel and said pins, means carried by the panel and connected to said pin connecting means for pivoting the said pins from a position vertically with respect to said panel to a position horizontally with respect thereto, electromagnetic means including latch structures for latching said pins in said vertical position, spring means connected to said panel and to said pin connecting means for pivoting said pins to said vertical position when said pins are unlatched from said latch structures, and a power circuit for said electromagnetic means including switches each having a playing piece engaging element arranged on the playing eld, and means engageable with said pin connecting means for moving said pins from said horizontal position to said vertical position with respect to said panel, said last named means including an 4. A simulated bowling amusement game apparatus comprising a supporting structure including a playing field and a horizontally arranged panel disposed in confronting spaced relation with respect to the eld, a plurality of simulated bowling pins, means providing pivotal connection between the panel and said pins, means carried by the panel and connected to said pin connecting means for pivoting the said pins from a position vertically with respect to said panel to a position horizontally with respect thereto, electromagnetic means including latch structures for latching said pins in said vertical position, spring means connected to said panel and to said pin connecting means for pivoting said pins to said vertical position when said pins are unlatched from said latch structures, and a power circuit for said electromagnetic means including switches each having a playing piece engaging element arranged on the playing eld, and means engageable with said pin connecting means for moving said pins from said horizontal position to said vertical position with respect to said panel, said last named means including a reset bar slidably carried by the panel and engageable with said pin connecting means.

5. A simulated bowling amusement game apparatus comprising la supporting structure including a playing field and a horizontally arranged panel disposed in confronting spaced relation with respect to the field, a plurality of simulated bowling pins, means providing pivotal connection between the panel and said pins,`

means carried by the panel and connected to said pin connecting means for pivoting the said pins from a position vertically with respect to said panel to a position horizontally with respect thereto, electromagnetic means including latch structures for latching said pins in said vertical position, spring means connected to said panel and to said pin connecting means for pivoting said pins to said vertical position when said pins are unlatched from said latch structures, and a power circuit for said electromagnetic means including switches each having a playing piece engaging element arranged on the playing eld, said switch elements being arranged in groups with one group controlling the power circuit to less than all of said electromagnetic means and another group controlling the power circuit to all of said electromagnetic means.

y6. A simulated bowling amusement game apparatus comprising a supporting structure including a playing eld and a horizontally arranged panel disposed in confronting spaced relation with respect to the iield, a plurality of simulated bowling pins, means providing pivotal connection between the panel and said pins, means carried by the panel and connected to said pin connecting means for pivoting the said pins from a position vertically with respect to said panel to a position horizontally with respect thereto, electromagnetic means including latch structures for latching said pins in said vertical position, spring means connected to said panel and to said pin connecting means for pivoting said pins to said vertical position when said pins are unlatched from said latch structures, and a power circuit for said electromagnetic means including switches each having a playing piece engaging element arranged on the playing iield said switch elements being arranged in groups .fwithone group. controlling the power circuit, to lessv than @.11` voi said electromagnetic means and another group controlling the power circuit to all of said electromagnetic means, Said last named means including a reset bar slidably carried by 4 fthe, panel and engageable, with said pin connecting means.

LYNDON A. DURANT. MELVIN J. BINKS.

- REFERENCES QITED vThe following referencesv are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

